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Germany - Places to see and things to do.

Germany Sights The Federal Republic of Germany is situated in Central Europe, bordered by the North Sea, Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Germany has more than 82 million inhabitants and is among the largest countries in the Europan Union. It is part of the Schengen zone and adopted the common European currency, the Euro, in 1999. Germany consists of sixteen states and its capital is Berlin, which is among the top seven tourist destinations in the country. The other six include the city of Cologne with its huge cathedral, Dresden with its historical centre and grest festivals, Dusseldorf which is the capital of fashion, Frankfurt's financial centre and impressive skyline, plus Hamburg with its old harbor and Munich with its Oktoberfest and closeness to the Alps. Among the other tourist destinations are the Baltic Sea Coast and the North Sea Coast, as well as the North Frisian Islands, the Ruhr area and the Rhine Valley, as well as both the Black and Bavarian Forests. As Germany is part of the Schengen Agreement, traveling is without border controls and thus less complicated.

The easiest way to reach Germany from a long distance is by plane. The largest and most important airports are set in Frankfurt and Dusseldorf. The airports in Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg are also large, but the main hub is still Frankfurt as it offers many intercontinental flights as well. The biggest airline in the country is Lufthansa. Some of the German Airports are connected to the InterCity Express and the other rail lines. Germany is serviced by several budget airlines like easyJet, Germanwings, WizzAir and RyanAir. Besides the air services available, Germany has regular train transport as well, connecting the country with all neighboring states. The EuroCity trains are well connected, very comfortable and reach almost all parts of the country. Germany has a few long distance bus lines and most of them go to or from Berlin. Besides these, there's a dense network of regional and local bus lines. The rural areas, for example, are covered by lines as well, though once a day. Germany is serviced by some international ferries as well, most of them from Scandinavia, but also from Poland, Russia and the Baltic States. Germany has a sophisticated road network and a motorway with no toll. Car rentals are available in most cities and the cars usually have a manual gearbox. A popular means of transport is by car-pooling and hitchhiking, which not only saves money but also protects the environment. Since May 2007, all cars that drive into the pollution-free zone need a special vignette sticker according to their category. The official language used in Germany is German, however all regions have slight dialects that vary from each other. English is learned at school, so it's widely understood and spoken. French, Russian and Spanish are widely understood and spoken in the tourist areas, as well. The currency used is the euro, and most German banks use a standard debit card called a Maestro Card that is accepted in almost all restaurants, shops and hotels. Payment with credit cards is usually accepted but mostly for larger sums.

The capital city of Germany, Berlin, is the largest settlement in the country with 4.3 million inhabitants. Berlin has a lively nightlife scene with many restaurants, clubs and bars, as well as many places of interest, museums and palaces. Berlin is divided into twelve large districts; it has a compact city centre with many Medieval buildings, but also modern glass constructions and office buildings. The city has many museums, but tourists should remember that most of them are closed on Mondays. The most-visited museums include the Museumsinsel, where there's a collection of ancient Greek, Middle-Eastern and Islamic art, the Deutsches Historisches Museum, the Jewish Museum, and the Gemaeldegalerie, where there are paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Raffael, Tizian, Caravaggio and Durer. As a city of art, Berlin also has many galleries showing various specialized exhibitions. From the churches present in Berlin, the ones that make a strong impression are the Nikolaikirche, which is the oldest church in Berlin, the Berliner Donn which is one of the biggest churches, and the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche. The landmarks in Berlin include the famous TV Tower on Alexanderplatz, which hosts a rotating cafй at the top and is the second-largest tower in Europe, the Reichstag, where the German parliament is located, and the Siegessaule, or Victory Column. Other must-sees include Berlin's two zoos and the aquarium, as well as the several large parks that are quite popular during the summer months, with the most interesting being the World's Garden, where there are various gardens from all over the globe, like a Chinese garden, a Bali garden, an Oriental garden and a Japanese garden. Berlin is also a city of festivals, hosting annually the Berlin Film Festival, where most of the film screenings are open to public; the Lange Nacht der Musee, which is a huge and important cultural event; and the Fete de a Musique, which features all kinds of music. The parades organized in Berlin are quite impressive and gather many young people. These include the Fuckparade, which is a political demonstration with a lot of music; the Love Parade, which is a total dance parade; Christopher Street Day, which is a political demonstration for the rights of gay people; and the Karneval, which is a large carnival in early March.

The city of Cologne is one of Germany's main media, tourism and business destinations. It also has the reputation of being the gay capital of the country. The locals are very friendly and don't mind giving instructions to tourists. The subway and bus transport systems are very good, and sightseeing is easy to organize. The major landmarks in Cologne include the Kolner Dom, which has 509 stairs up to the Cathedral, the Kolner Synagogue, which has lovely architecture, and the 12 Romanesque Churches that have interesting stained glass windows. In Cologne, there are two large park areas that are preferred by thousands of people who come to enjoy the sun, and even to have a barbecue or play with their children. The city of Cologne has many museums and galleries that are worth being included on your program.

Dresden is located on the Elbe River and is an important cultural and industrial centre, known for its old town, historical landmarks and rich cultural scene. The historical centre of Dresden was completely destroyed at the end of World War Two, and many priceless art and architectural treasures were lost forever. Restored today, that part of the city is interesting to visit and experience. Dresden is very beautiful, especially during the summer season, when it's visited by many tourists. The main hotspots in town include the Zwinger Palace, which is a Baroque building with many sculptures and famous art collections, the Semperoper building, which is one of the most beautiful opera houses in the entire world, the Frauenkirche, completely destroyed during the war and later renovated, as well as the Albertinum Museum and the Schloss und Grunes Gewolbe Museum. The river banks of the Elbe are very pleasant for enjoying the warm summer evenings, and so is the Grosser Garten, which is ideal for sports and relaxation. Every year, there's a nice Christmas Market, a Jazz Festival named the Dixieland Festival and movie nights called Filmnaechte that last from June to August, just across the castle on the other side of the Elbe River.

Dusseldorf is set on the banks of the Rhine River in the western part of Germany. It's a densely populated metropolis well-known for its busy nightlife, various events and festivals and great shopping and fashion centre. The places to be visited in Dusseldorf include the Old City, where most of the best bars and pubs in town are situated, the Rhine Promenade, which is a delightful place for walks, and the Media Harbor's very interesting architecture. Tourist hotspots also include the Rhine Tower, which is 240 meters high and has a 360-degree restaurant with amazing views.

Enjoying a fantastic skyline and an international airport with connections to various airports around the world, Frankfurt is a large city set on the Main River. The financial capital of Europe, Frankfurt is the residence of the European Central Bank and hosts some of the most important trade shows in the world, like the Frankfurt Auto Show and the Frankfurt Book Fair. The downtown area has many old but well-kept buildings, squares, museums, galleries and theatres. The places to be seen here include the Main River bridges, and the Mian Tower which offers a view over the entire city of Frankfurt. Other attractions include the Zoo, the Palmengarten, the Gruneburgpark and the Iron Bridge. Hamburg is a major port city that's set in northern Germany, on the banks of the Elbe River. It's the second largest city in Germany with a population of four million. It's also one of the most important media and transport hubs in Germany, and a major location for the aerospace industry. Worth visiting in Hamburg are the areas around the Spitaler Strasse and St. Jacobi and St. Petri Church, the area where the City Hall is set and where the Rathausmarkt is, as well as St. Nikolai's Church.

The biggest Mediterranean port in France is Marseille, which is the economic centre of the Cote d'Azur region. Marseille is among the oldest cities in Europe and today has a very large population of various ethnic groups. It has a lovely old harbour, Vieux Port, Notre Dame de la Garde Church overlooking the city, colorful markets, several museums, and some large parks like Borely Park, for example. Outside the city, there are some places to be seen as well, like the If Castle, famous from the Alexandre Dumas novel The Count of Monte Cristo, as well as the wonderful fjords of Calanques, perfect for a day out among nature.

The Hamburg harbor area is quite ineresting as well, with the Hamburg Dungeon and the Miniaturwunderland, which is the largest model railway layout in the world. There are several large parks in Hamburg and a large zoo. The city has several small beaches good for swimming or organizing open-air barbecues.

The capital city of Bavaria, the largest state in Germany, is named Munich. Munich is the third-largest city by population and is well-known for its architecture and culture. The most well-known places in Munich include the Karlsplatz and the pedestrian shopping zone, along with the old walled city and the Schwabing, which is the academic district beyond the Ludvig-Maximilian Universitat. There are many museums, galleries and memorials, such as the Deutsches Museum and the Pinokatheken. Munich has several large parks and a zoo, as well as three castles, Schloss Nyphemburg, Schloss Schleissheim and the Residenz. Each year in Munich, several festivals are organized. The most glorious is the Oktoberfest, where the focus is on drinking large quantities of beer, eating sausages, and having a good time with friends.